Bottle-capping machine.



2 SHEETS-SHEHT 1;

'PA'IIENTED JULY 16, 1907.

H S BREWINGTON BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AI'R. 21; 1906.

Qvil ucoo I Qfb/m No. 859,912. iATENTEDJULYlG, 190-7.

- H. s. BRBWINGTON. v

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum-n 11mm, 190

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warm 5M; m a 6 ATENT oFlf HENRY S. BREWINGTGN, QF BALTIMORE, MARYLAN DI BOTTLE-CAPPING MAcnimE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1907.

Application filed April 21,1906. BerialNo. 312,951.

The particular kind of bottle which I employ is that which has exterior locking shoulders ora bead on the head thereof, and the cap which is more particularly desired to be used and for which the-machine is par ticularly designed is themctal cap which I have here- N the head of a bottle mouth by the method I employ tofore invented and for which Letters Patent have been issued to me, said Letters Patent hearing date of January 14,1902, No. 091,107.

Having in mind the status of my invention relative to the state of the prior art I will state. that I am the first to apply a cap having a plain depending flange to a bottle by forcing the lower portion of the flange under the shoulder or bead on the head of a bottle, where no intermediary is used between the flange of the cap and the head on thebottle head. The state of the art does not disclose this feature of securing a metallic cap to which is effective and novel. The machine is so constructed that it is composed of but few parts, is durahie, effective in operation and not likely to get out of order. i I

With the foregoing object in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter described and pointed'out in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view and Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the ma.-

chine with the parts assembled showing a bottle in the machine in {the position to be ca p ped. Fig. 3 is a view of the. sealing cap. Fig. 1 is a view of a bottle head. Fig. 5 is a view of the sealing cap applied to a bottle. Fig, 6 is a sectional view of the crowning head with the parts assembled in position. Fig. 7 is a top view of the closing fingers assembled. Fig. 8 is a vertical view of the closing fingers showing the front half removed. Fig. 9 isa top plan view of the cam ring.

Fig. 10 is a vertical view: of the cam ring with the front half removed. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view oi'the iron, cylindrical in formyand it has a flaring base,

through whicha horizontal hole 's drilled for the reeeption' of a treadle lever which is fulerumed or pivoted in a suitable socket in the base of the body casting.

B is a reciprocating head which carries the crowning mechanism, said head being provided with an arm C,

which is bored at 1 and adapted to fit on the reciprocating rod 2 which rod is fitted within theupper part of the cast body part A. The diameter of thesaid reciprocating rod 2, is reduced near its projecting end so as to form a shoulder 3 thereon, and the arm is secured on the reduced end of the rod 2 by means of the cap nut 4 which is inwardly threaded and which is adapted to be screwed onthe end of the said rod 2 which is also threaded to receive it (neither of the threaded portions, however, hre shown).

As is indicated by the dotted lines and cohnecting .with the reciprocating rod 2 on the lower end thereof is a connecting rod 5. '1his rod is connected with the rod 2' by means of the rod 2 being slotted at (a) in the end thereof, a hole being drilled through the end of the said rod 2 and passing through theslotted end, a similar hole drilled through the upper end ,of the connecting. i'od 5, and a pin 6, inserted through the hole in the rod 2 and passing through the hole in the end of thev connecting rod 5, it having been previously inscte d in the slot ((1) of the rod 2. The lower end ,of the connecting rod 5 is connectedwith the crank shaft 7 by means of a pin 8. On the outer extended part of the shaft is ,secured' the fly wheel 9, which is driven by a belt (not shown), 10 is a shaft carrying on the free end thereof the treadle lever 10 as shown in Fig. 1, and 11 is a clutch 0n the shaft which is operated by the treadle lever and which in turn controls the operation of the machine. The head B is bored at 12 and is inwardly threaded at 13, into which is screwed the threaded plug 14. The plug is d dcriorly threaded throughout its en tire length and is provided with a nut head 15 on the top part thereof for the purpose of being readily en gaged by a wrench or other suitable tool t/hatit may be screwed within or withdrawn from the bore of the head B, as may b5 desired. This plug 14 is centrally bored throughout its entire length to allow the plunger 16 to reciprocate thcrethrough. The head 1; is nc vidcd with a hollow cap 17 which is inwardly-threaded at 18, that it may be screwed on the extended threaded portion of the plug l4 which has been screwed partially within the head l3. This cap is extcriorly provided with a spanner hole 19, that it may be easily put on and taken off the head ll hy the insertion of a suitable tool within the spanner hole for the purpose. This cap is bored through the center of the top part thereof and is inwardly threaded in the bored portion into which is screwed the set screw 20; and whichis provided with the lock nut 21 for the purpose to be hereinafter'explained. Into the bored portion of the head B, is fitted the reciprocating plunger 16 which is enlarged at a point from about the center thereof toward the lower end portion of said enlargement as is indicated at 23, thereby forming a shoulder thereon and designated 24,

which reciprocates within a slot guide 28 within theupper side of the bodyeasting A as shown in Pig. 2.

.The said sleeve D is inwardly threauled in the upper end part 29 for the purpose of being screwed on the exterior threaded end 26 of the head B, being exteriorly threaded on the lower end portion at 30 on to which is screwed the holder or follower 31. The sleeve D is 'bored of a larger diameter than the bore within the head for the purpose of allowing the enlarged end 32 of the plunger 16 to reciprocate therein. The sleeve D is slotted through the side walls thereof as indicated by the dotted lines 33, and through the plunger It; is drilled a hole 34, through which is titted a pin It?) which re 'ciprocates in the slot 33 in the sleeve D, and which prevents the mechanism within the head B and the sleeve D from falling out thereof.

The face of the lower end portion of the plunger 16 is slightly concave at 3(l for the purpose of centering the cap 37 and to force the outer edges of the cap in a rounding position that a better sealing contaet may be had with the head of the bottle 38. In the exterior walls on the lower end of the plunger 16 at a point a suitable distance above the lower end of the same is constructed a circumferential groove 3!) and just below said groove-a shoulder 40, Into the groove is titled a series of closing fingers 41. These fingers are constructed with a rounded head or top portion 42, said rounded head portion being of slightly less diameter than that of the groove 39 of the plunger, into which they are loosely fitted or suspended by the rounded head 42 being inserted within the groove 39 of the plunger 16, and the shoulder 40 on the plunger causes the-fingers suspended to hang at an angle suitable for the function required in holding the cap 37 within the fingers prior to being forced on the bottle head 38, which L, placed below for the purpose of being sealed. These fingers are tapered toward the inner center making the inner circle of less diameter than that of the outside thereof, in other words, the back of each finger is wider than the portion forming the V-shaped tooth, as shown in Fig. 14, each finger being tapered to a degree that'when assembled an inner circle of the V shaped teeth of the required dimensions is formed. These fingers are each provided with a V shaped tooth 43 and the lower end portion 44 is inwardly tlared outwardly for the purpose of receiving the bottle head, around the series of suspended fingers after being suspended in the grooves as herinbefore explained is fitted the yielding cam ring 45, which is made of a series of segments 46, these segments being held together and made yielding by the spring bands 47, which are fitted around the exterior parts ofthe several segments which compose the ring and the springs held in position by means of the grooves 48 into which they are sprung. The said cam ring is inwardly flared at its lower end portion at 44 for the purpose of avoiding a sudden con tact with the fingers and to cause theiu to gradually close and isexteriorly provided at the top part with a avoid any great frictional contact.

shoulder 49, which is adapted to fit into the groove 50 of the holder or follower 31. This follower or holder is hollow and provided on its lower end with an inwardly projecting shoulder 52 on which the lower edge of the cam ring -15 may rest. loosely titted to the lower edge of the cam ring so as to The inner diameter of the holder or follower should be of such (lllllUllSltlllS as to allow a suitable space between the inner walls thereof and the cam ring to intcrpose, that the expan- 7.5 I

sion of the cam ring may be freely permitted.

Referring back to Figs. 1 and 2,513 is a bracket cylinder which is secured to the body part A in line with the plunger in the head by the means of the bolls54, the

cylinder is made adjustable by reason of the slots 55,

whereby it may be raised and lowered as desired and secured in position by tightening up on the bolts 54; interposed between the head of the bolts and slots are washers 56. Within the cylinder is a supported rod 57 provided at its upper end with a disk 58. a spring 59 in the lower end of the cylinder is screwed the threaded plug tit) provided with a nut head 61 whereby the tension of the spring within the cylinder is regulated. Below the plug 60 and on the lower extended end of the rod 57 are secured the lock nuts 62, the lower end of the rod being threaded at G3 to secure them thereon,

the object of the lock nuts being to prevent the slipping of the adjustment after being once secured as desired, also to prevent the rod 57, when released from the pres sure brought to bear upon it. from rebounding from the bracket cylinder 53, and that it may be retained in position with the same spring tension as previously adjusted, and be so maintainedthroughout the time of operation of the machine or until other new adjust ment be required as hereinafter explained.

My invention is operative as follows: A bottle with a cap mounted thereon is placed on the disk 58 and the 'treadle lever is then depressed, the head it is then forced downward, the top of the cap is forci-d against the plunger and is centered on the bottle head, by

reason of the face 36 of the plunger being concave.

The cap is centered into proper position on the bottle head by the pressure brought-to bear on it by the descent of the pl unger; as'the head B is forced down over. the cap'which is held in position on the bottle head by the plunger which engages the cap. is such that the head of the bottle which is forced thereinto carries the plunger upward until it is brought into contact with the set screw 20 which is fitted within the top of the cap l7'and which has been previously adbeyond this tixed point. The adjustment is such that while. the plunger to is being forced upward the flexible cam ring 45, whiehis placed around thefingers will cause the tlared ends of the fingers to close in on the cap. and the V-shaped teeth of the fingers will en- 125 gage the lower edge of the flange of the cap forcing it under the head on the head on the bottle neck. The lingers being loosely fitted to the head as hereinbefore described will conform to and overcome any variation 'of the bottle head and the cam ring being composed of 1.30

The shoulder 49 should be but 70 The movement Justed so that the plunger lfi is prevented from rising 45 ing a cap on a bottle segments will force the fingers into closing contact in such a manner that they will in turn conform to the.

variations caused by the bottle neck not being uni- I form. 'lheiiexible cam ring 45 therefore equalizes and 5. distributes the pressure brought to bear on the bottle 1O ing the fingers in on the flange of the cap, yet it is also flexible enoughto prevent the crushing of the bottle head, and the spring 59 within the bracket cylinder Which supportsthe disk supporting the bottle is of suflicient strength to secure the necessary pressure helii tween the plunger and the bottle head interposed; be-

tween which is the cap, to. insure'a perfect closure and sealing contact yet, at the same time it has suflicient resiliency to overcome the different heights of various bottles. As the'head rises the'spring around the 20 plunger 16in the head B causes the bottle head to be forced out from within the closing fingers without. d i'sturbing the bottle from its resting place on the disk, whence it can be readily removed and another bottle placed thereon and the capping operation repeated.

2 The clutch 11 on the crank shaft 7 operating in such a manner that the machine will make but one revolution even though the pressure be retained on the treadle' lever, it is necessary to release the treadle lever before the machine will again make the revolution. While 3 I have described the operation by previously placing the cap loosely on the bottle head and permitting the head to descend upon the bottlefthe cap can also he placed within the closing die formed by the series of lingers and is held within the die by the f-shaped teeth of the fingers in such a manner and position that it (an be secured on the bottle head just as advantageously as by placing it first thereon, and it is just.

as practical to operate by this latter as by the former method. It will thus be seen that I have provided a 40 closing means which also will perform the additional function of holding the cap within the die previous to securing it"to the bottle head.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel, simple and cii'ective machine for the purpose of securnot' likely to get out of order, and have lessened the possibility oi breakage in bottles while in process of being sealed and have overcome the trouble in effectively scaling-bottles varying in height and the heads which are oittimos irregular in shape.

Slight changes might be resorted to in the formand arrangement of the several parts herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not desire to limit myself to the exact 1 constrii'etion as herein set forth, but,

Having described my invention, What I claim -as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. in a bottle capping machine the combination substantially as licreinbefore described. comprising a movable head vertically bored throughout its entire length, a

yielding plunger located within the bored portion provided with a groove in the lower end portion thereof, s

series of closing fingers secured in and suspended from said groove and provided inwardly-\vitli ,V' slmped teeth, the

55 "i'fl WQl end portion of the fingersbeing outwardly flared forming a cone shaped guide for the bottle head, a yielding head, and one that is durahleand too. sleeve andj'adapted to act upon the lower end portion ofthe fingers, fOl'Qll'lg them lnwhrdly toward a common center by the downward movement of the head, thereby securing-the cap on the bend of the bottle mouth.

2. In a bottle cappingmachine for applying crown cups with an annulurly arranged series of movable suspended closing fingers, a sectional ring surrounding szlid fingers, provided with a plurality of annular grooves in its outer surface, spring rlngs'in said grooves yieldingly compressing said sectional ring'nnd "lingers and a plunger upon which. said fingersjare curried, having a cupped outer end, substantially as described. 4

to bottles. comprising. a crowning mechanism, provided with a plurality of independent movable suspended closing fingers loosely secured (on plungeru flexible closing ring groovesin its outer surface, spring rings in said grooves pressing the said iingersabout the cap whereby the cap is secured to the head (if the bottle substantially us doscrlbed. X I

4. In a bottle capping machine, the combination with a reciprocating rod carrying thereon a head which is vortlcally bored throughout its entire length, of a plunger located witl1in-the bored portion, a spiral spring tilted around -.the upper part of the plunger, :1 series of closing fingers inwardly provided with Y-sliap'edteeth forming a closing die, carried on the lowerend 'of snld plunger, a sleeve secured to the lower end portion of the liemLn follower secured to (the sleeve, into which is titted :in elastil cam ring, said c'aln ring enclrcling tlie closing die and adapted to. force tlie'ilngel's toward a common center placed a sealing cap, the downward movement of the head causing relative upward movementof the plunger, thereby causing the V-shapcd teeth of the closing die to euhuge with the lower portion of the flange of the sealing cap ,and force it into locking and sealing contact with the head on the head of the bottle mouth.

5. In a bottle capping machine, the combination witlin movable bead vertically bored throughout its lengtli, a holllngers provided inwardly with V shaped teeth i'ornilng :1 closing die and carried thereby, a follower secured to the sleeve, an elastic independent cam ring fitted and held within the follower, and embracing the die formed by the seriesof closing lingers, the downward movemenlgof' .the

lingers of the closing die, forcing them inwardly toward common center, thereby securing the cap on the bend the bottle mouth. i i

;(l In a bottle capping machine the combination with a bored supported head, the. bored portion internally screw threaded at one end into which is fitted a hollow plug, se curing thereon a hollow cap provided with a set screw adjustment in the top pal-i: thereof, the lower end of the head being exteriorly threaded on to which is screwed u sleeve, said sleeve being threaded at its outer end on to wliicl flis fitted a follower, carrying within it a flexible cam ring, of a spring actuated plunger carrying near the lowerend thereof a closing die comprising a series of individual lingers, inwardly provided with V-sliaped'teeth, said lingers being flared putwurdly and extending-below the follower and in line with the cam ring, the said V- shaped teeth of the linger-{affording an additional functional-means for supporting izliU cap within the die prior to being secured on the bend of the bottle mouth.

' 7. In a bottle capping machine a closing die formed of a series of individual fingers, said lingers being provided with round top portions or bends, inwardly provided with V-slinped teeth. and being outwardly flared at the lower end portions, in combination withnn elastic cam ring interposed'betwcen a follower. secured to a sleeve and the said fingers substantially as described 8. In a bottle cupping; machine, the combination substantially as hereinhefore described, comprising a liead,

to bottles comprising a crowning mechanism provided Sf'ln a bottle capping machine for applying crown caps formed in sections pro'vided 'with a pluralityof annular yieldingly compressiru., snid closing ring, thereby comby the descent of the head one. bottle on which has been low sleeve secured to the head, ,a plunger located within the bored portion and a plurality of individual closing 'seginentalcam ring held in posltion by n follower scoured head acting upon the cam ring whlchin turn acts upon the diameter oi the groove being larger than that of the heads vertically bored throughout its length, threaded within the top bored portion, plug screwed partially within the top cap screwed on the projecting portion of the plug, thereby securing the cap on the head, said cap being bored and threaded in the top part thereof into which is screwed a set screw provided with a nut interposing between the cap and the not of the screw [or the purpose oi securing the adjustment thereof, a spring'actuated plunger within the head carrying a closing die on the lower end portion thereof. a sleeve secured to the lower end of the head. 'a follower secured on the lower end of the sleeve. into which is tilted an independent elastic cam and internally a threaded hollow portion, a hollow ring which is interposed between the closing die and the follower. and means for forcing the bottle and cap plunger into compressing contact, thereby causing the cam. ring to engage the lingers forming the closing die and to force the lower edge of the flange of the sealing cap into locking contact with the head on hottlehead.

tL ln a bottle cappingmachine, the combination sub- S spring actuated plunger withinthe head, carrying a closing die on 'the lower end portion, a sleeve secured to the lower end of the head. a follower secured on the lower end of the sleeve, an .tic cam-ring composed of a series oi segments, ext 'iorly provided with a series of grooves into which are sprung a like number of sprint bands for the purpose of elastically securing them to gether and \vhich'is secured within the follower whereby the die is (-loesed in on the ilaug'e of the bottle cap thereby sealing and locking the cap on the head of the bottle mouth.

it). in a bottle capping machine the combination with a bored head oi sleeve secured to the head, a spring actuated plunger within the head, a groove within the lowerend portion oi the plunger into which is inserted the heads oi the lingers composing the closing. die. the

, secured to the'sleeve,

itially as hereiubei'ore described comprising a head. a

on the fingers that they may fit loosely therein; said fingers beingheld in the'groove of the plunger by the abutting walls of the sleeve, an elastic cam ring fitted around said fingers and held in position by a follower means for supporting a sealing cap within the die and means whereby the cap is forced into sealing contact with thehead on the head of a bottle mouth thereby overcoming the defects and imperfections which would ordinarily rcsufc from the bottle head not being perfect.

11. in a bottle capping machine, substantially as here iubefore described comprising the combination of a plunger provided with a groove formed exteriorly in the lower body portion thereof, a plurality of individual fingers having a rounded top portion adapted to lit loosely within the grooveof the plunger, the fingers each inwardly provided with a V-shape tooth. the lower inner portion being flared outwardly forminga guide when assembled for the bottle head, a yielding segmental cam-ring held in position by a follower secured to a sleeve and means whereby the said cam ringis made to operate on the lower ends of said lingers for the purpose of securing a cap on the bend of a bottle head.

12. The combination of a bottle capping machine coniprising a head, it reciprocating plunger, provided with movable fingers loosely secured on the lower end portion thereof, a yielding segmental cam ring adapted to engage the lingers and force ,them inwardly toward a common center, a spiral spring secured'caround the upper end portion of the plunger, a plug for controlling the tension of the spring and a cap provided with a set screw adjustment" thereon for regulating the reciprocation of the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. BREWING'iON. Witnesses 

